“Beast Games” review so far

Is the reality show “Beast Games” good or bad? Illustration by Travis Wu.

By Travis Wu

Disclaimer: This article includes spoilers for “Beast Games”. 

“Beast Games” is an Amazon Prime reality show that has captured global attention with its intense, high-stakes competition. Created by renowned YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, or known as Mr. Beast, this show features 1000 contestants competing for a record grand prize of $5,000,000. 

At the time of writing this article, “Beast Games” has broken over 40 Guinness World Records: including but not limited to the reality show with the most contestants, the most cameras used and the largest cash prize ever. With so many records shattered and one of the most famous influencers running the show, “Beast Games” faces a dismal 2/10 rating on IGN and a 13% satisfaction score on Rotten Tomatoes. 

In this article, I’ll show my perspective on “Beast Games” and decide whether or not the low ratings are justifiable. 

First and foremost, let’s talk about the contestants of “Beast Games.” It’s important to remember that this show is entirely real. Keyword: REAL. Unlike scripted shows like “Squid Game”, “Beast Games” showcases raw, unfiltered emotions and the genuine humanity of its participants. To compete, contestants volunteer and commit to taking nine weeks off from their lives. 

Yes, you heard that right. NINE. ENTIRE. WEEKS. Many of them leave behind jobs and families in pursuit of the $5,000,000 prize, clinging to the hope that this could be their chance to turn their lives around. For some, it’s about lifting their families out of poverty. Others dream of paying off medical debt to help their parents fight off cancer or rebuild their lives after devastating losses. Some even quit their jobs entirely. Keeping all of this in mind, let’s begin the “Beast Games” rant. 

Like any big show, the main goal of “Beast Games” is to entertain audiences and generate positive net revenue. When it comes to entertainment, this show does not disappoint. Mr. Beast knows exactly how to keep you engaged. Every episode is packed with suspense, making the viewers entertained every moment. The challenges are super easy to follow but still keep you on edge. And of course, I can’t forget to mention the top-tier production quality! Mr. Beast didn’t hold back. He spent millions buying an island, building a massive game show arena with hundreds of trapdoors, creating a whole city, and more. The flashy effects, hundreds of different camera views, advanced technology and pyrotechnics explain “Beast Games” popularity.

Another factor in a successful show is the characters and the character development. Going hand-in-hand with the entertainment segment, “Beast Games” introduces hundreds of contestants’ stories and emphasizes the character development of around a dozen key characters.

For example, the story of Jeremy (#991) the polar bear guard showed him first as a hero for declining a one-million dollar offer to save a group of people into a contestant hated by many for his pretentious behavior and using religion to justify his actions. I personally loved the tension between Jeremy and the rest of the contestants; unfortunately, Jeremy was eliminated in a game of chance in Episode 6. 

I cannot go through a review of “Beast Games” without mentioning the Habibi brothers (#406 & #527) and Akira (#539). The Habibi brothers quickly earned a reputation as the most hated duo in “Beast Games” after their unethical actions in Episode 3 during the cube game. In this challenge, groups of three contestants are trapped in a room where one person must self-eliminate to save the rest of the group.

The Habibi brothers, who were paired with a contestant they didn’t know, devised a manipulative strategy to convince the unsuspecting contestants to eliminate themselves. They played on the emotional vulnerabilities and gullibility of others to advance in the game.

Luckily in Episode 6 — one of my favorite characters — Akira, addressed his mission to eliminate the Habibi brothers due to their unethical behavior. In a game of trivia, Akira was able to win a 1v1 duel against one of the Habibi brothers and was able to eliminate them from the competition. When offered $50,000 to keep the Habibi brothers in, Akira declined and ensured justice was served. This action turned Akira from an unknown background character into one of the most respected characters in the game. 

Now, for the part that has sparked heated debates among viewers as new episodes of “Beast Games” are released: Is the show ethical? Unlike other reality game shows like “Survivor”, “Beast Games” tests the limits of human greed and morality. From my perspective, the show exploits contestants’ genuine emotions for entertainment purposes without considering the ethical implications. To succeed in “Beast Games”, contestants are often forced to prioritize self-interest and greed over basic moral values.

There are countless competitions that I consider to be borderline inhumane, but I’ll focus on the Trolley Problem from Episode 7. In this episode, the remaining twenty-one contestants were put to several extreme moral tests: one example includes choosing between eliminating three contestants or their best friend.

Much like the well-known Trolley Problem, there’s no right answer. Either choice leaves the contestant with a moral burden, knowing they’ve ruined someone’s chance to improve their life. What makes it worse is that, regardless of the choice, they’re likely to be seen as a villain by the other contestants. It’s a situation where nobody truly wins, and the psychological toll it takes on the players is something I would consider inhumane.

Besides the psychological struggles that contestants had to go through in “Beast Games”, the physical conditions were not any better. In this article, contestants who were participating in the show “say they are being underfed and deprived of adequate medical care.”

Reading more through this article, it’s clear how Mr. Beast did not care for the health of the contestants. The prison-like meals and terrible sleeping conditions make me lean more towards the side of “Beast Games” being an inhumane competition with the sole purpose of popularity. 

As for my final thoughts, I believe the negative reviews of “Beast Games” on sites like IGN and Rotten Tomatoes stem more from animosity toward the show’s creator than from any objective assessment of the production quality. If you watch it without any preconceived bias, you’ll find that the show isn’t half bad.

If you’re looking for a quick, entertaining binge, “Beast Games” certainly delivers. However, when viewed through an ethical lens, it’s clear that the show fails to consider the well-being of its contestants. With a few episodes left, I can only imagine how much more intense and unpredictable the challenges will become.